BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The immediate past spokesperson of the Senate, Ajibola Basiru has revealed that the Osun State Commissioner of Police invited him over the uproar over seat said to have been reserved for the state governor, Ademola Adeleke at the Osogbo Central Eid praying ground on Wednesday morning.
There was a clash between Basiru and some aides of the governor after the former lawmaker refused to leave the seat said to have been prepared for Adeleke.
Basiru had arrived at the praying ground alongside some prominent Osogbo indigenes including the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Tunde Badmus, for the Eid-el Kabir prayers and while waiting for the prayers to commence, it was learned that some people believed to be the governor’s aides informed him he was occupying the spot reserved for Adeleke and was asked to move to the second row.
Adeleke who was ushered into the praying ground could not access his seat as the disagreement was still raging.
The governor and his entourage left the ground without participating in the prayer.
Meanwhile, the governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, claimed there was an attempted assassination on his life but he escaped unhurt and ordered that security agencies should arrest culprits.
However, addressing journalists after honouring the police invitation, Basiru said he met with the Commissioner of Police and explained his own side of the story.
He said he was allowed to go afterwards.
On what transpired at the praying ground, Basiru accused Adeleke of using thugs as aides adding that a man who asked him to vacate the seat reserved for the governor did not approach him in the right manner.
He said he didn’t see any advanced party of the governor or security operatives at the sitting arena as at the time he came to the premises.
The former Senator explained that, “I came to the Osogbo Central Eid Prayer Ground in company of my uncle, the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland. I sat and later, a man came to me and asked me to leave the seat that it was reserved for the governor. I said there was no advanced party of the governor or any security operative there and that I didn’t see anyone.
“He asked some thugs to force me up and some citizens rose in my defence and stopped them. I sat and observed my prayers. I was about leaving the premises when a policeman came to me and said the CP asked me to come. I said I would go. They blocked the premises for about 45 minutes. Eventually, the CP put a call across and I told him what happened and we drove down to the place. I don’t know the story they have.
“I just want to sound a note of caution to the Governor of Osun State that he should not allow non-state actors to take over his protocols, I have served as commissioner in this state for two terms and I served in the Nigerian Senate, so, I know how protocols are observed at events. Nobody can say I am not a dignitary at that event. So, I want to implore the governor of Osun State to take charge of his government and should use proper officials and should not use touts to organise his activities,” he said.
